ABA Web Store Awarded the 2007 Best Association Website from the Web Marketing Association

November 01, 2007 (PRLEAP.COM) Technology News
Each site considered by the Web Marketing Association is judged on a 10-point scale in seven categories, earning a total score between zero and 70 points. The highest score in a given category wins Best Website in its designated industry. The ABA Web Store scored a total of 66.5 points.

“We are thrilled with this award,” said Bryan Kay, director of ABA Publishing. “It demonstrates that the success of the ABA Web store has not only improved the member buying experience, but it also continues to drive revenue and further reinforce the relevance, quality, and value of both ABA content and the ABA brand.”
The ABA Web Store’s high score broke down this way:

• Design: 9.5
• Innovation: 8.5
• Content: 10
• Technology: 9.5
• Interactivity: 9.5
• Copywriting: 9.5
• Ease of use: 10

Automated Graphic Systems, the company that took on the challenge of redesigning the ABA Web Store in 2004, worked closely with the ABA to create the online storefront, and also launched several new modules. The Web site is customized to the ABA's membership needs and is fully integrated with the association's membership database and fulfillment systems while remaining a public online storefront. Among its features are online credit card processing, data-driven best sellers and new releases, E-products, continuing education courses, cross-selling, product promotions, pre-sales and member discounts.

The launch of the ABA Web store put the ABA at the forefront of legal publishers pursuing e-commerce and opened a new marketing channel for the association in support of non-dues revenue. Fiscal year results for 2006-2007, ending Aug. 31, along with recognition from consumers and the industry, show how the ABA Web Store continues to strengthen the ABA’s e-commerce presence.



Among the site’s successes:

• The ABA Web store currently offers more than 2,000 print, electronic, and CLE products in a variety of formats in more than 100 legal practice areas. This number is expected to grow by at least 500 products annually.

• The ABA Web Store receives more than 450,000 page views each month.

• Since its launch, the ABA Web store has consistently been one of the top five most-visited areas of the ABA Web site.

• In 2006, the ABA Web Store was selected one of Internet Retailer’s top 500 Retail Web Sites. The top 500 sites account for 63-percent of all online sales. The Top 500 Guide identifies the 500 largest retail Web sites, ranking them by their 2005 sales. It also measures other key statistics such as yearly sales growth, monthly visits, monthly unique visitors, sales conversion rate, and average ticket. In addition, the ABA Web Store has been named one to the top 50 fastest-growing e-retailers—a significant distinction in the Internet retail world.

Automated Graphic Systems (http://www.ags.com) is part of Consolidated Graphics (CGX), headquartered in Houston, Texas, one of North America’s leading general commercial printing companies. With 68 printing facilities strategically located across 27 states and in Canada, CGX offers an unmatched geographic footprint with extensive capabilities supported by an unparalleled level of convenience, efficiency and service. CGX has the largest and most technologically advanced sheetfed printing capabilities in North America, a sizeable and strategically important web printing capability, industry-leading digital printing services, a rapidly growing number of fulfillment centers and proprietary Internet-based technology solutions.

With more than 413,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.


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